In less than two weeks, students across New York State will return to school for the 2024-2025 academic year. While this period is filled with anticipation for students, parents, and schools, it also brings new lung health challenges. The American Lung Association in New York is offering guidance to ensure that everyone heads back to school with healthy lungs.
“Back to school is an exciting time for students across New York State, and it is also a time for a fresh, healthy start,” said Trevor Summerfield, Director of Advocacy for the American Lung Association. “As we enter the new school year, it is critical for parents, students and school staff to be aware of new asthma triggers, exposure to new viruses, peer pressure to smoke or vape, and other stressors that can impact the health of students. We are happy to offer several resources and guidance to keep everyone healthy this year.”
The Lung Association’s comprehensive Creating Lung-Friendly Environments for Youth initiative aims to help schools and caregivers address chronic lung diseases like asthma, air quality issues, and tobacco-free policies. This free initiative provides information, guides, and sample policies that can be implemented in schools.
The organization is focusing on four critical areas of lung health:
1. **Asthma**: In New York State alone, 319,000 children under 18 live with asthma—a leading cause of missed school days. The Lung Association offers extensive resources for parents and schools.
2. **Tobacco Use**: With the new school year come stressors such as vaping and other tobacco product use. In New York State, 16.9% of high school students reported using e-cigarettes in the last 30 days. Resources include prevention programs like INDEPTH alternative suspension program and Not On Tobacco voluntary youth cessation program.
3. **Indoor Air Quality**: Poor air quality in schools can affect attention spans and cognitive abilities among students and staff. The American Lung Association provides a downloadable guide on improving indoor air quality in educational institutions.
4. **Infectious Respiratory Diseases and Vaccinations**: With the start of a new academic year comes exposure to new viruses; hence it's crucial that students maintain good health habits and stay updated on vaccinations including influenza and COVID-19.
More resources are available at Lung.org.
